Telecom Overhaul: New Permit Processing Temporarily Suspended

The Department of Telecom has temporarily suspended processing new permits from November 10 until the new framework under the Telecommunications Act 2023 is established. Current applications will still be processed. The new Act aims to revise outdated regulations and introduce protective measures against spam communications.

The Department of Telecom will pause processing new permit applications starting November 10 amid regulatory transitions stemming from the Telecommunications Act 2023. This measure arises due to potential regulatory uncertainties, as expressed in an official statement.

Applications for Unified Licenses, Unified License(VNO), Standalone Licenses, Registrations, Permissions, and No Objection Certificates submitted before this date will proceed as usual. This comes as the department works to finalize norms under the new framework introduced by the Telecommunications Act 2023.

Superseding older laws, like the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, the new legislation enforces non-discriminatory, non-exclusive rights for telecom network expansion and introduces user protections against spam and malicious communications.

(With inputs from agencies.)